WestEnd Closes Major International Deals on ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day’ Ahead of EFM Market Premiere, First Trailer Debuts (EXCLUSIVE)

WestEnd Films has secured a raft of international distribution deals on “Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day,” the contemporary un-romantic comedy inspired by Virginia Woolf’s beloved novel, and has unveiled the film’s first international trailer ahead of its EFM market premiere.

The film features a standout ensemble led by Haley Bennett (“Widow Clicquot,” “Cyrano”), BAFTA-winner Timothy Spall (“The King’s Speech,” “Harry Potter” franchise), Jack Whitehall (“Jungle Cruise”), Jennifer Saunders (“Death on the Nile”), Lily Allen (“How to Build a Girl”) and Elyas M’Barek (“The Perfect Secret”).

Deals have been secured in the U.K. (Vue Lumière), Italy (BIM), Spain (Twelve Oaks), Portugal (Outsider), Ex-Yugoslavia (MCF), Poland (Galapagos), Greece (Spentzos), Bulgaria (Beta), the Baltics (European Distribution), the Middle East (Front Row), Israel (United King), Turkey (Vagon) and airlines (Cinesky).

Eve Gabereau, director of distribution at Vue Lumière, said: “Vue Lumière is thrilled to be part of ‘Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day.’ We love the mixture of Edwardian culture with activism, the suffragette movement and social change, with a twist of humor, romance, literature, science and maverick characters. We look forward to launching it in the U.K. and bringing it to audiences this year — across our circuit and with our partner cinemas for a full theatrical release.”

As previously announced, Wild Bunch will distribute in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Directed by BAFTA nominee Tina Gharavi (“I Am Nasrine,” “Queen Cleopatra”) and written by Justine Waddell (“Force of Nature Natalia”), “Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day” follows Katharine Hilbery, a passionate astronomer determined to avoid romantic love and marriage at all costs.

“Fun and contemporary in tone, the film delivers a refreshing ensemble comedy set against the ravishing backdrop of Edwardian London, a world of scientific innovation and crumbling patriarchy. Virginia Woolf’s themes feel strikingly current, exploring women balancing romantic love with careers,” WestEnd said.

The film is produced by Justine Waddell, Christopher Figg (“Golda”), Meg Thomson (“Freud’s Last Session”), Stephen Julius, Philipp Steffens (“God You’re Such a Prick”) and Julie Link, with Annegrete Weitcamper-Krug, Egor Noskov, Margarethe Baillou, Lara Ta, Nadya Gorshkova, Elena Simone and Konstantin Korenchuk serving as executive producers. Sebastian Leutner co-produces.

The film is a U.K.-German co-production, between Asterisk Films, Piccadilly Pictures and GLISK (a Federation Studios company). Co-production partners are Gretchenfilm, Senator Film and German Film Partners. The film is financed by Stellican Ltd, M.Y.R.A. Entertainment, Tsavorite Films, Ciara Filmproduction and Star Mountain Pictures, with support from North East Screen Industries Partnership, Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, MFG Baden-Württemberg, the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), and development financing from the BFI (awarding National Lottery Funding).

WestEnd will continue handling international sales at EFM, where it will screen the film to buyers for the first time. U.S. domestic rights are co-represented by WestEnd and WME Independent.